χαλκοῖς βάθροισι.
.“ἐς Τάρταρον ἠερόεντα,
τῆλε μάλ᾽, ἧχι βάθιστον ὑπὸ χθονός ἐστι βέρεθρον,
ἔνθα σιδήρειαί τε πύλαι καὶ χάλκεος οὐδός
”
: “"a brazen threshold, immoveable, fixed in the earth by roots without a break, of natural growth,"” i.e. not wrought by human hands. The rift or cavern at Colonus, from which the adjoining region took the name of the “χαλκοῦς ὀδός” (see on 57), was locally supposed to be connected with the “"brazen threshold"” below by brazen steps reaching down into the under-world. The stress laid on the χαλκοῖς βάθροισι here, and the name “"Brazen Threshold"” itself, rather suggest that the myth was visibly symbolised by some artificial steps made at the top of the steep rift. γῆθεν, as Od. 13.163 “λᾶαν ἔθηκε καὶ ἐρρίζωσεν ἔνερθεν” (Poseidon petrifying the Phaeacian ship).“ ῾οφ ταρταρυς᾿ ἔνθα δὲ μαρμάρεαί τε πύλαι καὶ χάλκεος οὐδός,
ἀστεμφής, ῥίζῃσι διηνεκέεσσιν ἀρηρώς,
αὐτοφυής
”
